Chief Epidemiologist Dr.Sudath Samaraweera yesterday stated that the mortality rate among COVID-19 patients was 28 per 10,000 patients and it prevailed as 38 deaths per 10,000 COVID-19 positive cases by the first week of October.

Speaking to the media, Dr.Samaraweera said that the majority of COVID-19 related deaths were the elderly and people who suffer from chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart diseases and kidney diseases.

He further said that the percentage of deaths attributed to COVID 19 complications including pneumonia was very low.

Dr.Samaraweera further said that a Committee has been appointed to conduct a clear scientific analysis of the recent home deaths and the Director General of Health Services has instructed the relevant Committee to submit its report within a week.

Meanwhile, Government Medical Officers’ Association Editor Dr.Haritha Aluthge said that the Committee report on COVID-19 deaths which is scheduled to be submitted within a week is not to take any legal action against anybody but to get a clear idea of the virus currently spreading in the country. “It is also expected to determine whether all these deaths reported so far in the country have a direct impact of the virus or not,” he added.